Czech Republic

Photo: Kamloops Blazers forward and 2016 prospect Jiri Smejkal (C) was one of the more effective forwards for the Czech Republic at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, posting two goals and two assists in five games (courtesy of MARKKU ULANDER/AFP/Getty Images)

The Czech Republic entered the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship looking to shock everyone from a position of anonymity. Not looked at as a favorite, the team nonetheless featured some very solid players who also happened to be NHL-drafted prospects, including New Jersey Devils recent sixth overall selection, Pavel Zacha. The team even got a huge boost when the Boston Bruins allowed last season’s rookie sensation David Pastrnak to join his native country on a sort of reassignment after an injury-plagued first half of the season. Read more»

Photo: ZSC Lions forward and 2016 prospect Auston Matthews is ranked third in points per game (1.22) in the NLA, where he has scored 20 goals and 33 points in 27 games this season (courtesy of MARKKU ULANDER/AFP/Getty Images)

At roughly the halfway point of the 2015-16 hockey season, the picture for the upper portion of the 2016 NHL Draft is becoming a bit clearer, in part due to the recently completed World Junior Championship that took place in Helsinki, Finland. Read more»

Photo: Team USA had just one blemish in their four preliminary round games at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, with their quarterfinal match placing them up against the Czech Republic (courtesy of RONI REKOMAA/AFP/Getty Images)

The playoff round of the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship begins tomorrow with the quarterfinal matchups featuring the non-relegated teams from Group A and Group B, although the first relegation game in the best-of-three series will also take place. The games will take place at Helsinki Ice Hall and Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland. Read more»

Photo: Team Czech Republic players Jakub Zboril, Michael Spacek, and David Pastrnak celebrate a third period goal by Spacek in their loss to Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship (courtesy of MARKKU ULANDER/AFP/Getty Images)

Team Czech Republic has shown themselves to be a strong opponent in their four preliminary round games at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. They gave the high-powered squad from Finland all they could handle in their New Year’s Eve showdown, but ultimately fell to the Finns by a 5-4 score. The loss sends the Czechs into a quarterfinal matchup with the USA. Read more»

Photo: Prince Albert Raiders forward and 2016 prospect Simon Stransky netted the opening goal for the Czech Republic in their 5-3 win over Belarus at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship (courtesy of Chapin Landvogt)

With host Finland on the docket for a New Year’s Eve showdown, Team Czech Republic could ill afford to lose to a lesser team like Belarus if they wanted to stay ahead of their Group B counterpart while also maintaining a chance to win the group outright. Read more»